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Bridge Players at Malhamdale

Activity types:

Free WiFi

Hills & moorland

Indoors

Rural peace

Holiday overview

If you're a regular Duplicate Bridge player at club level these breaks will help develop your competitive edge. Seminar topics will cover bidding, card play and defence in greater detail, getting you to think hard about your game. Most of these holidays have sole use of a Country House which results in the maximum number of players and a great competitive atmosphere. All guests on this holiday should be comfortable playing duplicate bridge at club level.

Holiday highlights

Seminars each morning

Bridge competition each evening

Free afternoons give time to relax or explore the local area

Comfortable Bridge rooms, quiet and as light as possible

Gain EBU Master Points

Price includes

High quality Full Board en-suite accommodation and excellent food in our Country House

Carefully selected friendly, knowledgeable and EBU qualified Bridge Director, to ensure you get the most from your holiday

All Bridge fees, stationery and prizes

Master Points

Accommodation

Retaining its 19th century grandeur Newfield Hall is our most stately country house. With excellent accommodation and facilities, it's a popular location for walking and leisure activity holidays.

Newfield Hall has 48 bedrooms located either in the main building or in the tastefully converted coach house.

Choose your room

Classic Rooms• Check in from 2:30pm• Comfortable accommodation • En-suite bathroom with bath or shower• 23 inch TV• Hairdryer• Tea and coffee-making facilities• Double or two single beds• Toiletries• Single rooms are available at no extra charge

Facilities

• Multi-purpose activity room • Range of board games and books• Free WiFi is available in some public rooms • Heated indoor swimming pool

• Extensive gardens with views of the Yorkshire Dales • Outside there is a walled garden and putting green• Mini-golf

Dining

All holidays at our Country Houses are full board accommodation including evening meal on arrival to breakfast on the day of your departure. All of our Country Houses have a well-stocked bar serving local beers, wine and spirits.

√Start your day with our extensive breakfast.√ Take your fill from our famous self-service picnic lunches√ A relaxed social dinner is a highlight of any stay at our Country Houses

Your evenings

Just relax and take it easy, or if you'd like to continue to chat with our guides and fellow guests then why not grab a drink or take part in one of our optional evening activities.

All of our bars are stocked with locally sourced drinks so you can really soak up your surroundings.

Accessibility

Newfield Hall is fully accessible to wheelchair users and has a bedroom specifically designed for wheelchair access.

Fire procedure is displayed in each room and explained to guests on arrival. Guests requiring assistance at an evacuation are identified at this time and door hanger cards are issued

Mobile phone reception is generally good from the main building

Assistance dogs accompanying visually or hearing impaired guests are welcome; dogs must be kept on a lead or harness at all times

Information can be provided in large print

Staff have received disability awareness training

Special diets can be catered for. Specialist food can be obtained with prior notice

Hired equipment can be arranged for your stay with prior notice

Fridge for medication can be supplied

Itinerary

This Bridge holiday has been created for anyone who is a regular player of duplicate bridge at club level. Your knowledgeable Bridge leader will focus on a different topic each day, and you’ll get plenty of instructive practice hands to help you put into play any new concepts or strategies. But it’s not all brain work – there’ll be plenty of free time to relax as well.

Arrival day

Check-in starts from 2.30pm (premium rooms from 1pm). All guests are invited to join us for afternoon tea where we’ll introduce your leader.

Your first Bridge session starts at 5pm and continues after dinner. Please inform either the house manager or your Bridge leader as soon as possible if you do not intend to attend the evening Bridge competition.

During your stay

Mornings

We start each morning with tuition from our expert leader, covering topics such as Jacoby 2NT, Splinter Bids, Cue bids, Directional Asking Bids, Defence and Two Suited Overcalls. Please note, your Bridge holiday leader may need to be selective about what seminars topics are covered in order to match the experience, skills and interests of individual guests.We’ll also enjoy some valuable practice hands to help us apply any new concepts.

Afternoons

We pride ourselves on our award-winning lunches, and you’ll get to savour these before some free time in the afternoon. You can use our Discovery Point to explore the local area, relax in the wonderful surroundings of our country house or get that little extra practice time!

Evenings

Each evening at 5pm your Bridge holiday continues with a fun tournament that continues after a fabulous 3-course dinner.

Departure day

We’ll be sad to see you leave, but we know you’ll be heading home after a leisurely breakfast full of new insights and strategies to help you bid and make contract when you’re next playing at your club.

What to bring

All your Bridge stationery and equipment will be supplied. You may, however, like to bring a notebook and pen to make your own notes. EBU Members - don’t forget to bring your EBU membership number to earn Master Points on this holiday.

Local area

Discover the Yorkshire Dales

Newfield Hall sits in rolling open countryside. The nearest village with facilities is Gargrave where there is a pub and shop. The market town of Skipton is about seven miles away. Here you’ll find a full range of facilities including supermarkets, shops, banks, chemists, pubs and cafes.

During your visit to the Newfield Hall you may enjoy visiting the following places of interest:

Malham CoveJust 10 to 15 minutes' drive from Newfield Hall is the dramatic Malham Cove, just one of the iconic limestone sights of the Yorkshire Dales. If you are not visiting the cove as part of your holiday, it's well worth making the short walk from the village.

SkiptonThe market town of Skipton, about 20 minutes' drive from Newfield Hall is a vibrant place to visit. Dominating the the town is its well-preserved medieval castle. www.skiptoncastle.co.uk

Brontë ParsonageVisit the parsonage in Haworth, the home of authors Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë. Many of their most famous works were written here, including Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and the Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Haworth is around 45 minutes' drive from Newfield Hall. www.bronte.org.uk

Keighley and Worth Valley RailwayThis preserved steam railway runs from the centre of Keighley to Oxenhope via the ‘Brontë’ village of Haworth. The line is still well-known as the setting for the 1970 film ‘the Railway Children’ and boasts an impressive selection of steam locomotives. Keighley station is around 35 minutes' drive from Newfield Hall. www.kwvr.co.uk

Settle to Carlisle RailwayRide England’s most scenic railway through the Yorkshire Dales from Hellifield or Settle station. Heading north over the iconic Ribblehead viaduct you could head to the small market town of Appleby, or the border city of Carlisle. www.settle-carlisle.co.uk

Fountains AbbeyThis impressive World Heritage Site contains the dramatic ruins of Fountains Abbey, the largest monastic ruins in the country. There is an exhibition of life in the medieval Abbey. Adjacent to the abbey is Studley Royal water garden – England’s most spectacular Georgian water garden.

White Scar CaveLocated near the village of Ingleton, about 40 minutes' drive from Newfield Hall, White Scar is Britain’s longest show cave. The underground tour reveals spectacular caverns, waterfalls and stalactites. www.whitescarcave.co.uk

RHS Harlow Carr GardenSituated near Harrogate, about 50 minutes' from Newfield Hall, are the Royal Horticultural Society's gardens at Harlow Carr. The gardens have been planted to suit the challenging growing conditions of the north. Wander and enjoy the tranquil surroundings. www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr

Lightwater ValleySet in 175 acres of parkland near Ripon, just over an hour's drive away, Lightwater Valley has big thrill rides including the ‘Ultimate’, the longest rollercoaster in Europe. The park has over 40 rides and is fantastic fun for all the family. www.lightwatervalley.co.uk

Travel

Travel to Malhamdale

By train:

The nearest train station is at Skipton. For train times and general rail enquiries visit www.nationalrail.co.uk or call 03457 484950 (from outside the UK call +44 20 7278 5240).

HF station transfer - great value!

Our station transfer operates every Friday and Monday between Skipton station and Newfield Hall. The pickup is at 4.10pm from Skipton station. On departure day the transfer will get you back to Skipton station by 9.35am. This transfer costs just £12 return, however a place must be reserved at least 7 days in advance by calling 0345 470 7558.

By taxi:

If you can’t meet our station transfer, the 8½ mile journey from Skipton to Newfield Hall can be made by taxi. pre-booked taxis cost approx £15 per journey. Details of our current recommended taxi company and rates will be sent to you with your booking. The return taxi journey can be arranged on your behalf by the Newfield Hall Manager.

By car:

From the south, follow the A65 from Skipton to Gargrave. Leave the A65 by Eshton Road, signposted to Malham and pass Eshton Hall on the right. Newfield Hall is approx 2½ miles further on, on the right and before the village of Airton. Look out for our sign.

From the north, exit the M6 at junction 36 and take the A65 towards Skipton. In Coniston Cold village take a sharp left into a narrow road between houses, signposted to St Peters Church and Bell Busk and Malham. Pass under a railway viaduct, then after a mile bear right over a small bridge. After a further mile turn right at the junction, cross the narrow bridge then shortly after turn left through the gateway onto the drive of Newfield Hall. Look out for our sign.

Travelling from overseas

There is a local airport at Leeds/Bradford which is served by European flights. From here take the aiport bus to Leeds station, then on by train to Skipton. Alternatively a pre-booked taxi direct to Newfield Hall would cost around £60.

Manchester Airport has a much wider range of long-haul flights. There are direct trains every hour from the airport to Skipton with one change at Leeds. Allow 2 hours to Skipton - see www.nationalrail.co.uk for train times.

Flying to London Heathrow airport is another option, but has a longer onward train journey - allow 4½ hours to reach Skipton. From Heathrow first take the Piccadilly line Underground train to London Kings Cross station. From here take a train to Skipton (1 change at Leeds) - see www.nationalrail.co.uk for train times.

Leaders

Alan Bailey

Alan was awarded Professional Membership of the English Bridge Union for services to the game, in recognition of both his teaching ability and of his work promoting Bridge in schools and at Birmingham University. Presently teaching Bridge at the West Midlands Club (Solihull), Alan also devotes his time as President of the Birmingham Bowling Association. Having joined HF Holidays as a leader in 1988, Alan continues to enjoy the “buzz” of working for HF Holidays in our Country Houses and looks forward to welcoming you on your forthcoming Bridge holiday.

Gordon Bickley

Gordon has been playing Bridge for forty years and has represented his county on occasion. As well as being a Premier National Master, he is a full member of the English Bridge Union’s Teachers’ Association and a County Director. He has been teaching Bridge at night school and bridge clubs since 1995 and firmly believes that the game should be played for pleasure.

Made what could have been a very dry subject very enjoyable and informative.

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Dates & Prices

We're sorry, there are no dates available for this holiday at the moment. Please check out our other tours and breaks or call our team on 0345 470 8558 to be notified of new dates as soon as they become available.